Feed-water heater.



Nb. 678,200. Patented July 9, mm. a. W.-SC0TT & .1. A. srnom. FEED WATER HEATER.

(Application filed. Dem-17, 900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheds-Sheet l.

"m: uonms PETERS cu. FHOTOMYHQ; msnmomu. o. a

Patented luly 9,1901; s. w. SCOTT & J. A. srnom v v FEED WATER HEATER.

' (Application filed Doc. 17, 1900.)

(No nodal. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

nu: norms Pin-Ens no, ynomyyua. wAsMma'ron. n'c,

*UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W'. SCOTT AND JOHN STROM, OF PULLMAN, ILLINOIS.

FEED-WATER HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of IIett'er s Patent Nb. 678,200, dated July 9, 1901.

Application filed December 17, 1900. Serial No- 40,l54. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W. SCOTT and JOHN A. STROM, of Pullman, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Water Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in feed-water heaters such as are commonly associated with the operation of steam-boilers,--in which connection immediate presence of and is brought into intimate contact with the water whose temperature is to be raised. In such devices the condensation of the steam upon its introduction to the water-chamber produces a partial vacuum,which in itself serves to facilitate the induction of the steam, the condensed steam itself adding to the volume of water to be drawn upon and the steam in the process of condensation giving up its heat to the incoming water.

Feed-water heaters in which steam is employed as the heating agent in the manner above described ordinarily comprise a large water chamber or receptacle having a steamadmission pipe entering the same. At or near the top of this chamber is a water connection in the form of a pipe having an inletvalve, the opening or closing of which is antomatically effected by means of a float within the chamber. A plain pipe connection tapping the chamber near its bottom leads to the feed-pump, and another valved pipe connection in the bottom constitutes a blow-off. An overflow-pipe having a valve controlled by a separate float completes the enumeration of the common features in devices ofthis character now in use. Among the improved features of construction of such devices which either separately or in combination with each other are contemplated byour present invention may be mentioned the following: first,

passing through the valve, and, third, the;

use of a steam-admission pipe having an upwardly-turned inner end and a drip-aperture in its lower side, combined with a cowl located thereover for the purpose of spreading the incoming steam and also for the purpose of constituting a direct water-heating surface with relation to the water entering through the water-inlet valve located over and above said cowl.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation, partly in vertical section broken away, of a feed-water heater embodying the several features of our invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line w 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3v is a detail in side elevation, broken away, showing part of the valve-actuating mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a detail of the water-inlet valve.

r In the drawings, 1 designates a water chamher or receptacle, which may be cylindrical, as shown, or of any other desired or convenient form and of any size adapted to the requirements of the boiler or other device or purpose in connection with which it is to be used. The said chamber is shown as supported upright on suitable legs 2, and preferably ceutrally of the top plate or cover 3 there of is secured a valve-chamber 4. This latter chamber is tapped by a cold-water-inlet pipe 5, provided with an ordinary stop-valve 6. The admission of cold water to the chamber 1 is controlled bya flaring orcone-shaped inlet-valve 7, which engages a correspondinglyshaped valve-seat 8 for a purpose hereinaf ter described. Entering the upper portion of the water-chamber 1, through the side wall thereof, is a steam-inlet pipe 9, the inner end of which is turned upwardly, as shown, so as to provide an upward discharge for the steam. Over this inner upwardly-turned end of the steam-inlet pipe is secured a hood or cowl 10, the point or apex of which will be located below and preferably in the line of the vertical axis of the water-inlet valve 7. Through the lower inner end of the pipe 9, below and opposite its open hooded end, is formed a dripaperture or nozzle 11 to drain off any water of condensation that may collect in the pipe 9.

12 is the outlet to the pump, the same consisting of a plain pipe connection tapping the side wall of the chamber near its lower end, as shown. At 13 is shown a blow-off pipe tapping the base or bottom wall of the chamber at its lowest point and provided with an ordinary stop-valve 14, as shown. In the inner face of the side wall of the chamber and exteiidin g through substantially the lower half thereof is formed or secured an overflow basin or channel 15, the lower end of which is connected with an overflow-valve 16, located, preferably, exteriorly of the chamber and at or near the lower part of the same, which valve controls the discharge of water from the channel 15 to the overflow-discharge pipe 17, the horizontal member of which may unite with the lower end of the blow-off pipe 13 by an ordinary T coupling, as shown. As a means for operating the overflow-valve in properly-timed relation to the water-inlet valve we provide the following mechanism.

18 is a lever pivoted at 19 to a bracket or other support formed on or adjacent to the valve-casing 4. To this lever, near its fulcrum, is pivoted at 20 the upper end of the stem of the water-inlet valve 7. The shorter arm of the lever carries an adjustable counterweight 21, and to the end of the longer arm is secured by a slotted connection 22 the upper end of a connecting-rod 23, the latter being made adjustable as to its length bya turnbuckle 24. The lower end of rod 23 is secured to the outer end of a crank-arm 25 on one end of a shaft 26, journaled ina hollow casing or bracket 27, secured in a substantially watertight manner to the wall of the chamber 1. The opposite end of shaft 26 carries a crankarm 28, to the outer end of which is secured by aslotted connection 29 the upper end ofa connecting-rod 30, which latter is adjustably connected, by means of a turnbuckle 31, with the upper end of the stem 32 of the overflowvalve, the latter being provided with a closing-spring Fast on the shaft 26 and within the casing or bracket 27 is secured one end of an arm 34:, from the opposite free end of which is suspended a float 35. At 36 is shown a pipe connection to the upper part of the chamber 1, through which water of condensation from a heating system or water from any other source which it is desired to use may be introduced to the heater.

In the operation of the device the stopvalve 6 being opened water enters the chamher through the pipe 5, steam enters through the pipe 9, and the heated water is drawn 01f for the boiler through pipe 12. The weight of the float 35 and its connection to the lever 18, plus the pressure of the incoming water, acts to maintain the valve 7 normally open against the closing tendency of the counterweight 21. By reason of the conical formation of the valve 7 and its seat 8 the entering water is given the shape of an outwardlyflaring annular spray, whereby the particles of water are more or less finely divided and separated. The steam entering through the open upper end of pipe 9 impinges on the under side of the cowl 10, thereby heating the latter to a considerable extent and reacting therefrom rises around the edge thereof in the form of an annular cloud, which meets and comingles very thoroughly and intimately with the incoming annular waterspray. The hot steam thus intermingling with the cold water by direct and intimate contact is condensed thereby, during which process it gives up the larger portion of its heat to the water. A portion of the incoming water impinges directly on the cowl 10, and in so doing becomes heated by contact with the same. Rebounding then from the latter it comes in contact with the ascending cloud of steam rising around and above the edge of the cowl and then becomes merged in the general body of falling water. The water entering through pipe 36 falls directly upon the cowl 10, being heated in consequence thereof, and some portion of this water then falls directly upon the pipe 9, absorbing heat therefrom and to some extent condensing the steam in the latter, the resulting water of condensation passing through outlet 11. to the main body of water below. If new water enters the chamber faster than it is drawn oif through pipe 12, the water-surface will rise, carrying with it the float 35, which action through the described valve connections permits the water-inlet at valve 7 to be gradually contracted and even closed altogether by the gravitation effect of the counterweight 21. The supply of Water being thus diminished or stopped, the water-level in the chamber again falls, thereby again opening valve 7 and permitting more water to enter. In this way a substantially constant relation is automatically preserved between the incoming and outgoing water through pipe 12 and a substantially uniform supply of heated water is maintained in the chamber, and this action can take place without affecting the overflow-valve by reason of the slotted connection 29 between the crank 28 and the rod 30. If now by reason of a sudden increase in the volume of incoming water in excess of the outgoing water through pipe 12 or for any other reason the water should rise in the chamber to anysuch extent as might threaten to flood the steam-pipe 9, thefloat 35 through the described connections would act to open the overflow-valve 16 against the force of its closing-spring 33, this action being permitted after the closing of the water'inlet valve 7 by reason of the slotted connection 22 between the rod 23 and the lever 18. This furnishes an ample outlet for the water through channel 15, overflow-valve 16, and overflowpipe 17 until the level of the water has again fallen sufliciently to restore the several parts to their normal operative condition, and it will be understood that the counterweight 21 will ordinarily be so set on the lever 18 as to be effective to close the valve 7 whenever the float 35 has arisen sufficiently to permit such closing, thereby preventing unnecessary Waste of water through the overflow.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we employ but a single float to operate both the inlet water-valve and the outlet overflowvalve and that this float is connected to said valves by mechanism which allows the float to operate either valve while the other is at rest. Again, the conical formation of the inlet-valve,which sprays the incoming water, in association with. the cowl 10, which spreads the incoming steam,produces a very broad and thorough contact of the steam and water, and the rapid and continuous condensation of the incoming steam produces a partial vacuum in the chamber, whereby the induction of both the steam and water is the more readily promoted. Moreover, the direct control of the water-inlet valve by the float 35 and the weight 21 secures a spraying effect which is proportionate to and consistent with the volume of water passing through the valve.

In the operation of a feed-water heater a considerable quantity of scum or other floating flocculent material collects on the surface of the water and it is desirable to rid the apparatus of this accumulation. In many cases special apparatus is provided for this purpose. 0 ur invention contemplates the disposition of the objectionable matter in an effective manner through the overflow-channel 15, to facilitate which the upper or mouth of the channel is made divergent, as shown, thus affording an extended lip or edge, over which the scum matter may be readily im-v pelled by the overflowing water.

Our invention is not limited to the precise details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that the latter may be considerably varied and modified within the scope and spirit of our improvements.

We claim as our invention- 1. In a feed-water heater, the combination with a water-receptacle, of a water-inlet connected with the upper part of said receptacle, a steam-inlet pipe entering said receptacle below said water-inlet, said steam-pipe having an upwardly-turned open end and a dripdischarge opening formed in its under side, and a cone-shaped hood or cowl secured over the open upper end of the steam-admission pipe adapted to spread the incoming steam by contact with its under side and to dissipate and spread the incoming water byv more intimate contact, substantially as de- I scribed.

2. In a feed-water heater, a suitable waterreceptacle and means foi supplying water thereto, in combination with a steam-admission pipe entering said receptacle and having an upwardlyturned open end for the discharge of steam and an aperture or nozzle formed through its lower wall below said open upper end for the purpose of discharging any water of condensation that may collect in the steam-pipe, substantially as described.

3. In a feed-water heater, the combination with a water-receptacle and a water-inlet pipe connected thereto, of a cone-shaped or outwardly-flaring water-inlet valve controlling the admission of water to said receptacle, whereby the incoming water is given the form of a divergent annular spray, a counterweight connected to said valve and tending to close the same, and a float also connected to said valve and acting to maintain the valve open by its gravitation effect against the closing tendency of the counterweight, whereby the valve, float and counterweight all cooperate to control the amount of water admitted and. the degree of fineness with which the partioles of incoming water are broken up and separated, substantially as described.

' 4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a water-receptacle of a water-inlet valve, an overflow-valve, a counterweight normally tending to close the water-inlet valve, a spring normally tending to close the overflow-valve, connections intermediate said valves, and a single float connected to said valve connections and operat ing to permit the actuation of said valves successively, whereby when either valve is being actuated the other is at rest, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a water-receptacle of a water-inlet valve and means for closing the same, an overflow-valve and means for closing the same, connecting mechanism intermediate said valves, and a single float connected to said valve-connecting mechanism and normally operating on its rising movement to first permit the closing of the waterinlet valve and subsequently to open the overflow-valve, and on its downward movement to first permit the closing of the overflowvalve and subsequently to open the waterinlet valve, substantially as described.

6. In a feed-water heater, the combination with a water-receptacle and a water-inlet valve therefor, of a lever pivoted adjacent said valve to one arm of which the stem of the valve is connected, an adjustable counterweight carried on the other arm, a springcontrolled overflow-valve, a shaft journaled in the side of the receptacle intermediate said Valves and having a pair of crank-arms, a longitudinally-adjnstable slotted connection between one of said crank-arms and one end of said valve-operating lever, a similar connection between the other crank-arm and the stem of the overflow-valve, an arm rigidly secured at one end on said shaft, and extending into the receptacle, and a float pendent from the opposite free end of said arm, the rising of said float permitting the closing of the inlet-valve and subsequently positively l opening the overflow-valve, and the falling of the float permitting the closing of the overflow-valve and subsequently positively opening the inlet valve, substantially as described.

GEORGE WV. SCOTT. JOHN A. STROM.

\Vitnesses:

SAMUEL N. POND, FREDERICK O. GOODWIN. 

